Malaysian with flight plan goof up - Curt Lewis

Malaysia Airlines launches probe as jet flies in wrong direction

Malaysia Airlines is investigating a flight plan goof-up that took place for an Auckland-KL service on Christmas Eve

Malaysia Airlines has launched an investigation after one of its jets apparently flew in the wrong direction after taking off from New Zealand on Christmas Eve.

The pilot of flight MH132, which was on the Auckland to Kuala Lumpur route, flew in the wrong direction because air traffic control was given the wrong flight plan.

The pilot questioned the A330s path about eight minutes into the flight, which took off at 2.23 am local time, according to the New Zealand Herald.

Malaysia Airlines confirmed that there was a problem with the flight plan.

"On December 24, our flight MH132 from Auckland to Kuala Lumpur was given the latest flight plan by the airline's Operations Dispatch Centre whilst Auckland's Air Traffic Control (ATC) was inadvertently given an earlier flight plan," the carrier said in a statement.

"Both routes were following an approved flight path and the aircraft had enough fuel for both routes," it said, adding that the "safety of both passengers and crew were never compromised at any time."

The company is conducting an investigation into the flight plan submission, it said.

In March last year, Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 went missing with 239 people on board.